• 2 Fools and a Bull: Aruba's most celebrated restaurant takes only 15 guests a night, most of whom have made reservations months in advance. For that they get dinner and a show, the show being wizardly cooking that the guests watch from the counter seating that surrounds the open kitchen. This is easily one of the finest foodie venues in the Caribbean.
  • Gasparito: Located in a restored cunucu (farm) home, Gasparito features intimate dining rooms inside and a breezy outdoor patio and bar. Local art, much of it for sale, graces the interior walls. Main courses focus on seafood and Aruban dishes—how about shrimp in coconut milk and brandy sprinkled with seasoned coconut flakes? For dessert you can’t go wrong with banana na forno, a whole banana baked with cinnamon.
  • Ruinas del Mar: Unperturbed by the muffled waterfalls nearby, serene black swans and Japanese koi glide through the terrace-side lagoon at this romantic restaurant, while tropical birds in the luxuriant foliage serenade the setting sun. Menu prices reflect the special-occasion atmosphere, but steak and seafood offerings such as lobster, crab cakes, and rib-eye are worth the splurge. 
  • Screaming Eagle: If the idea of fine dining at intimate tables shrouded in gauzy drapes sounds romantic, then make a pilgrimage to this sleek restaurant. Start with one of the bar's more than 100 cocktails before sampling the kitchen's innovative French-fusion cuisine, which combines fresh seafood with rich sauces and eye-popping presentation. 
  • Zeerover Pescaderia: For a real taste of local flavor, try this casual waterside venue, once a fisherman’s pier where locals would come to buy fresh seafood. The owner started frying up catches on the spot, added a cooler with cheap local beer, and the rest is history. There's no menu, so follow the lead of the locals who wait in line at the first window where fish is weighed and purchased. Your choice of sides is limited to french fries or bread. The next window sells beer, wine, and soft drinks, so stop there before grabbing a seat.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.